Los Angeles, CA – Over 30,000 members of United Teachers of Los Angeles (UTLA), SEIU 99, and Associated Administrators of Los Angeles (AALA) came together in downtown Los Angeles at a rally on March 16 in a powerful display of unity, demanding the Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) shift their budget priorities and agree to a decent contract. If the district does not settle the contract, teachers, school staff and administrators are prepared to strike on April 14.

LAUSD is the second largest school district in the nation. The district has had a proposal for a contract for over a year and has not offered any reasonable offer to address union demands. Key issues include increasing salaries, reducing class sizes and improving staffing levels.

According to UTLA, “LAUSD started off the school year with $5.03 billion in reserves. Since 2022, they’ve committed $10 billion to multi-year private contracts.”

“This would be my first ever strike,” commented LAUSD middle and high school teacher Kate Regan. “I love teaching – it is my dream job. I want the district to respect my work and my students by offering a contract that is fair – I am more than ready to strike to make that a reality. Defending public education is incredibly important.”

Centro CSO members rallied in solidarity carrying a large banner with the slogans support public education and support all education workers.

Antonieta Garcia co-chair of the education committee for Centro CSO commented, “We need to unite and support UTLA/SEIU 99, they represent our public education system.”

#LosAngelesCA #CA #Labor #UTLA #SEIU #AALA #Strike #Teachers

Los Angeles, CA – On August 30, at 3 p.m., Chicanos, impacted families of police brutality, people raided by ICE and the FBI, along with supporters will in East Los Angeles, for a march, marking the 55th anniversary of the Chicano Moratorium.

The march will begin at Sounds of Music record store, the site of what was once the Silver Dollar; a bar where many including LA Times reporter Ruben Salazar took refuge after LAPD and Los Angeles sheriffs mercilessly beat and attempted to disperse participants in the August 29, 1970 Chicano Moratorium. Salazar was killed by LA sheriffs. The moratorium’s demands were ending the Vietnam occupation and equality for Chicanos.

Tomorrow, a large coalition will be commemorating the 55th anniversary of this event and uplifting current demands such as stand with Palestine, ICE out of LA, Chicano self-determination, community control of police, and defend public education.

The coalition is made up of Centro CSO, Union del Barrio, Black Lives Matter: Los Angeles, Jewish Voice for Peace, About Face LA, UTLA, Teamsters, SEIU, Freedom Road Socialist Organization (FRSO), and United Families for Justice, which consists of police killing impacted families of Jeremy Flores, Francisco Núñez and Hugo Cachua.

“I believe it is important to commemorate the 55th Chicano Moratorium, because we once again find ourselves, as a people, in a crucial moment, where staying silent is complicity,” says Centro CSO member and security lead Derek Mejia, “People should be out in the streets on Saturday August 30, standing up against the ICE raids and with Palestine! It is important that we continue and maintain the long history of the Chicano struggle.”

The 55th commemoration will begin at 3 p.m. at the Sounds of Music record store, where attendees will begin marching, and ending at Salazar Park for a rally and entertainment starting at 4:30 p.m. That part of the event will take place at the Whittier Boulevard/Alma Avenue side of the park. The family-friendly event will have free food, water and entertainment.

#LosAngelesCA #CA #Chicano #ChicanoMoratorium #ImmigrantRights #OppressedNationalities #CentroCSO #UniondelBarrio #BlackLivesMatter #JVP #AboutFace #SEIU #Teamsters #UTLA

Los Angeles, CA – Thousands of spirited Los Angles Unified School District (LAUSD) workers rallied on May 7 to protest proposed cutbacks and layoffs by Superintendent Alberto Carvalho.

In front of LAUSD headquarters, the educator’s union, United Teachers of Los Angles (UTLA) and SEIU 99 school workers voiced a united strong message of “no cutbacks and no layoffs” that will hurt students.

Ainelda Gonzalez, a Miramonte teacher and UTLA chapter chair stated, “Cutbacks will hurt our students with cuts to counselor hours and cuts to teacher aides, who are vital in supporting student learning and development.

At the rally, UTLA President Cecily Myart-Cruz gave a strong message saying what LAUSD workers won in 2023 in the three-day strike will not be cut!

UTLA reported in their bulletin, “By unilaterally cutting school-site budgets, Carvalho is creating chaos as schools scramble to save as many positions as possible. With a projected $6.27 billion in reserves, Carvalho and the district are trying to undermine what we fought for out on the picket lines and won — class size reductions and increased staffing to support our students’ mental health, well-being, and academic achievement.”

The rally was attended by many community organizations, including Reclaim Our Schools, a coalition advocating for public education. A delegation of Centro CSO attended and joined the loud chanting, “No cutbacks!”

Centro CSO members circulated a flier on our campaign to stop the construction of a large Extera charter school in an East Los Angeles residential community. This project would cause pollution, traffic and parking problems. An appeal hearing is set for September 17 at the LA County board of supervisors meeting on a motion by Supervisor Hilda Solis. Centro CSO encourages people to attend and send public comments opposing the Extera construction project.

Centro CSO is a long-time strong ally of UTLA and advocates for public education against privatization by charter schools.

#LosAngelesCA #CA #Labor #Teachers #LAUSD #UTLA #CentroCSO

Los Angeles, CA – As of January 29, UTLA strike victories continue. At a contentious public LAUSD meeting the Board voted 5-1 for a “moratorium on new charter schools.” A loud but small rally by the pro-charter forces chanted and gave misleading speeches promoting their lies. The LAUSD boardroom was packed, with many waiting outside and watching on remote TV. The pro-charter forces packed the room hoping to pressure the board members to vote against a resolution to cap new charter schools. To counter, Eastside Parents Against Privatization leader Eloisa Galindo and Julie Regalado spoke in support of a moratorium on charters. They also told of the damage and segregation charters school cause at LAUSD.

This moratorium or cap on new charter schools was a victory won during the massive strike and rallies during the UTLA strike January 14 to 22. The strike saw over 30,000 teachers striking and over 300,000 students boycotting schools. The demands were: to improve LAUSD public schools, lower class sizes, community schools, more nurses, librarians and counselors, along with ethnic studies and decent wages. After round the clock negotiations at LA city hall, the pro-charter Superintendent Austin Beutner caved and included a moratorium of new charter school as part of the tentative agreement.

The charter moratorium agreement does not try to eliminate the current large number of charter schools nor those that are in co-locations. However, the agreement does call for advance notices and for an effort to go to the California state government for changes and more future funding. LAUSD has been hit by a proliferation of charter schools which drain over $600 million per year in primarily Black and brown neighborhoods of Los Angeles. UTLA made holding charters schools back a central part of the demands and on second day of strike held a massive rally at the office of the CA Charter Schools Association.

Centro CSO in Boyle Heights wholeheartedly participated in the UTLA strike by walking the picket lines every day at Breed Street School. CSO joined all the rallies and worked closely with Eastside Parents Against Privatization. The parent group and Centro CSO are part of the fight against the mega KIPP Promesa charter school project to build a large 625-student school in the heart of Boyle Heights at the old Lincoln Hospital. With the Boyle Heights Neighborhood Association, a lawsuit was filed on January 4 against the city of Los Angeles and KIPP Promesa charter school. February and March will see the court and community battle to stop this mega KIPP school.

Please donate to pay for legal fees of the lawsuit http://gofundme.com/HelpCentroCSO and participate in CSO’s upcoming meeting February 20 at 6 p.m. at the Boyle Heights Benjamin Franklin Library. For more information call 323-943-2030.

#LosAngelesCA #PeoplesStruggles #LAUSD #UTLA #TeachersUnions #charterSchools

Los Angeles, CA – This morning, January 22, LA Mayor Garcetti, the Los Angeles Unified School District Superintendent (and former Wall Street banker) Austin Beutner, along with United Teachers of Los Angeles President Alex Caputo-Pearl announced a deal. On day six of the UTLA strike, LAUSD and UTLA came to a tentative agreement, which includes reducing class sizes, wage increases, hiring more support staff like librarians, psychologists and nurses, increasing spending on special education, putting a moratorium on charter schools, and investing more in community schools.

“Chapter chairs at 2 p.m. are meeting at Roosevelt High School to vote and bring back the information to all of our schools,” says UTLA chair and teacher Carlos Cerdan.

“We made history in the struggle for quality, public education,” says longtime Chicano revolutionary Carlos Montes. “The Brown and Black community of Los Angeles overwhelmingly supported the teachers. We will continue fighting back with them every step of the way.”

Currently, the Boyle Heights neighborhood is engaged in a fight against gentrification and with KIPP Charter attempts to open a new school. Centro CSO has sued KIPP and you may donate to the efforts here: http://gofundme.com/HelpCentroCSO

#LACalifornia #PeoplesStruggles #teachers #Strikes #California #UTLA #TeachersUnions #UTLAStrike

Los Angeles, CA – More than 30,000 striking teachers, along with supporters, parents and students rallied at City Hall, January 18, to press for a decent contract and oppose attempts to privatize public education.

#LACA #PeoplesStruggles #teachersStrike #Strikes #UTLA #TeachersUnions #UTLAStrike

Los Angeles, CA – Day five of UTLA teachers strike started with citywide enthusiastic picketing at all LAUSD schools, January 18. The night before, parents held a protest outside the home of former Wall Street banker and school Superintendent Austin Beutner. Parents were angered that the LA police department showed up in full force to protect the representative of the super rich. Beutner is pushing a plan to “reimagine LAUSD” – a cover for dismantling and privatizing LAUSD. Leading a misinformation campaign, Beutner has misled parents about student absences. In the media, Beutner is making proposals while belittling the mass protest that has brought the country’s 2nd largest school district to a standstill.

In the afternoon a mass rally was held on the steps of LA city hall while negotiations were underway inside. Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti brought the LAUSD board and UTLA to the negotiation table. Garcetti opened LA city hall for the meetings, while the mass rally chanted outside.

Thousands of teachers, staff, supporters, students and parents chanted, sang, danced and raised their fists in a broad show of unity and a militant spirit. The rally was led by Cecily Myart-Cruz, UTLA NEA vice president. Speakers included students and teachers. Alex Caputo-Pearl, the UTLA president, gave a rousing speech saying that UTLA is making history. Caputo-Pearl said UTLA has brought LAUSD and its top politicians to the ground. He asked all to continue the strong picket lines to win a victory for the whole community.

The community group Centro CSO continued participation in the with the daily picketing in the early morning at Breed Street School in Boyle Heights. CSO members, along with the parents of LAUSD student Jesse Romero, who was killed by LAPS August 9, 2016, also participated in the UTLA rally.

Negotiations continue and strike picket lines will resume Monday morning January 21.

#LosAngelesCA #OppressedNationalities #PeoplesStruggles #ChicanoLatino #LAUSD #PublicSectorUnions #Strikes #UTLA #TeachersUnions #AustinBeutner #UTLAStrike

Los Angeles, CA – Citywide, UTLA teachers and parents continue the strong momentum and LAUSD politicians are feeling the pressure. Negotiations have restarted today, January 17. The UTLA strike is getting national attention and the newly elected California Governor Gavin Newsom is calling on LAUSD Superintendent Austin Beutner and LA Mayor Eric Garcetti to continue with negotiations. Newsom is bringing both politicians in to negotiate at LA City Hall. UTLA has the strength and momentum to win for fully-funded, public, community schools.

Teachers throughout the city held picket lines with parents and students in unity. In Boyle Heights strong picket lines at Breed Street Elementary started once again as early as 4 a.m. Three contingents, one on Breed Street at the student drop off; one at the other entrance on 3rd Street and Chicago Street where staff parks – but not a single car was there; and the contingent along 4th Street rallied and made a lot of noise.

Teachers and Centro CSO hung a large banner on the fence at Breed Street Elementary facing the thousands of passing cars. The banner slogan reads, “Support for public education! No privatization and no mega KIPP Promesa Charter School!” With pouring rain, high winds, but an unwavering spirit, the large group kept the picket line strong.

California 53rd Assemblyman Miguel Santiago made an appearance at Breed Street Elementary. Centro CSO members approached him to ask him about his stance on the strike.

“I asked Santiago if he would be urging LAUSD Board President Monica Garcia to support the teachers and to support their demands,” says longtime Chicano revolutionary Carlos Montes. “He just smiled, but I’m hoping he takes what we asked of him serious.”

After the morning pickets, all East-Area UTLA members inundated the sidewalks of major streets. A massive sea of red shirts, banners and chants greeted the shouts and honks of support from motorists.

In Boyle Heights, strikers and supporters lined the streets for miles, chanting, “Everywhere we go, people wanna know who we are! So we tell em ‘We are the teachers, the mighty mighty teachers! Fighting for justice and for education!’” and “Huelga! Huelga!” (the Spanish word for strike).

The future of public education in Los Angeles will depends on the outcome of the UTLA strike.

At the monthly Centro CSO meeting, Lupe Torres, who is a UTLA chapter chair and teacher at Marvin Avenue School, gave a strike report. Part of the report included an in-depth talk about the failed model in teaching by KIPP Charter school. Carlos Cerdan, who is also a UTLA chapter chair at Breed Street Elementary, stated that this strike opened his eyes.

“The inequalities we face as teachers has never been clearer as it is now. It's like the veil was lifted,” says Cerdan. “Our school and teachers have been facing so much repression from LAUSD administrators and principals, since our strike.”

Picket lines will continue tomorrow Friday, January 18 to complete the first school week of the intense strike. The evening of January 16, UTLA President Alex Caputo-Pearl announced during the daily press conference that UTLA and LAUSD were re-entering negotiations. Centro CSO live-streamed the announcement at their monthly meeting.

Plans are to continue picketing in the morning, and joining the massive rally at Grand Park 10:30 a.m., January 18, in downtown Los Angeles, gathering in front of City Hall, and ending each school day with the ongoing picketing. All are encouraged to participate and to join the striking teachers and staff of UTLA.

#LosAngelesCA #PeoplesStruggles #CentroCSO #LAUSD #teachersStrike #Strikes #UTLA #TeachersUnions

Los Angeles, CA – On day 3 of the UTLA teachers strike, seven regional rallies were held citywide, resulted in major street shutdowns. In East LA, East Area UTLA teachers held a loud enthusiastic rally at Soto Street in front of the LAUSD East Area offices. The rain did not put a damper on the loud, enthusiastic teachers and community supporters numbering in the thousands.

The parents of Jesse Romero, 14-year-old who was a student at Mendez High School who was killed by LAPD August 9, 2016, joined the rally. They held up a large Centro CSO banner with the slogan “Support public education! No privatization of education!”

Led by a MECHA student speaker who called on all students to support UTLA by joining picket lines, the rally was inspiring. Teacher speakers called this a historic strike that will be remembered and paid homage to Chicano and Black civil rights activists like Dolores Huerta and Rosa Parks.

Adrian Tamayo, director of UTLA East Area led chants like “Whose schools, ours schools!” Vice President of Elementary Education Gloria Martinez gave a passionate speech on the dedication and sacrifices teachers willingly make for the students and community. Martinez also said UTLA was disrespected by the latest inaccurate comments and false information made by LAUSD board members and Superintendent Austin Beutner. Beutner and the others attempted to confuse parents into returning the students to school.

The UTLA strike at LAUSD, which is the second largest school district in the nation, has led to massive student absences and massive teacher participation. With over 300,000 student absences, the successful strike is putting extreme pressure on LAUSD. The strike has overwhelming support in Southern California area as well as national backing from labor unions, celebrities and many politicians.

In the remaining two days of the first-week strike, UTLA has called for more actions, including another mass rally on Friday, January 18, in front of LA City Hall.

Centro CSO members will continue to picket daily at Breed Street School and encourage all to express solidarity with the striking teachers, support-staff, students and parents.

#LosAngelesCA #PeoplesStruggles #teachersStrike #Strikes #UTLA #TeachersUnions

Los Angeles, CA – Arriving at 4:30 a.m. to confront scabs, a large crowd of teachers, parents, students and allies showed up for the picket lines at Breed Street Elementary, January 15, day two of the UTLA teachers strike. Rain and wind did not stop the passionate and determined teachers. The day focused on the fight against privatizing education

Members of Centro CSO and Freedom Road Socialist Organization showed up at Breed Street Elementary, where a campaign has been waged against a mega KIPP Promesa Charter school in Boyle Heights. Teachers at Breed Street Elementary, like Carlos Cerdan, a teacher with 18 years of experience, have also been fighting against the colocation by Extera Charter at Breed Street Elementary.

“I'm proud to have been teaching at Breed Street Elementary for all these years,” says Cerdan. “But charters make our fight as public school teachers even more difficult. We're colocated here but if KIPP Promesa Charter moves in next door, we'll be even more in danger.”

Chanting, “I don't know but I've been told! Privatizers run the board!” and “When I say ‘Trump’ you say ‘charters!’”

Over 400,000 students have not attended school during the UTLA led strike and some 30,000 teachers and support staff have gone on strike. On the first day of the strike an estimated 27,000 teachers went on strike. Day two has reported a large growth, and even more are expected to participate in the UTLA strike.

A mass rally comprised of a sea of red shirts in downtown took place around 10:30 a.m. The massive UTLA group gathered for a protest at the offices of the California Charter Schools Association (CCSA). CCSA has funded pro-charter candidates in LAUSD and state-wide elections. The rally included Eloisa Galindo, mother of Marianna Avenue Elementary school students. Galindo denounced the proliferation of charter schools in East LA and said it was the rich attacking public education with the goal of privatization.

Teachers and UTLA leaders like Gloria Martinez and Alex Caputo-Pearl spoke to the energized masses. Centro CSO youth members hung a large banner over the wall of a five-story parking lot building. The crowd responded with cheers to the slogan, “Support public education! No privatization! No mega KIPP charter school in Boyle Heights!”

The enormous rally ended with a performance by the Chicano band Ozomatli.

Next up for UTLA are plans to continue the daily picketing, regional actions and ending each school day with another picketing.

Longtime Chicano activist and member of Centro CSO Carlos Montes says, “We support UTLA in this strike, especially the demand to control and regulate the spread of charter schools at LAUSD. We only need to look at New Orleans and Puerto Rico after hurricanes.”

The fight in Boyle Heights will continue against KIPP Promesa Charter school. All are encouraged to join the UTLA picket line on day three and to also join the fights against gentrification and privatization of education. Join Centro CSO. You may also donate to the lawsuit against the giant KIPP Promesa Charter here: http://www.gofundme.com/HelpCentroCSO

#LosAngelesCA #PeoplesStruggles #CentroCSO #teachersStrike #Strikes #UTLA #TeachersUnions